U.S. Election '08: Race to the Conventions

[Seamus Fermanagh]

If you HOPE for CHANGE (regardless of apparent absence of substance):

Barack should be the choice of the pivotal superdelegate votes because he's won more states, won more pledged delegates, raised more money, and just comes over more charming.

If you don't want Barack, WHY DO YOU HATE HOPE?!



If you're "hot for Hil" than you want Hilary to be the choice of the pivotal superdelegate votes because she's won the races in the states the DEMS must take from the GOP to win in November, demonstrated enough resolve for 3 presidencies, and clearly is not afraid of taking a punch politically. Woman doesn't understand "quit" unless its in reference to a dominant military strategy.


If you're not "hot for Hil," vote for her anyway, because Bill needs her away from Chapaqua....

[ICantSpellDawg]

I'm really loving all of the articles coming out attacking the Clintons as monsters and "a Horror film that never ends"

notably Noonan, Hitchens, Sullivan, Dowd, etc.

FINALLY the people are talking about how absurd it is.


PS - MITT ROMNEY VP '08!!!!!!!!!!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

PS - MITT ROMNEY VP '08!!!!!!!!!!

Don't think so TSM. Florida's governor or that lass from Ohio. Those are the swing states Johnny MUST have to win and Romney doesn't poll particularly strongly in either.

Add in the degree of loathing many of the establishment have for him -- which perplexes me, personally -- and I think your lad is out of contention.

[Lemur]

This is pretty hilarious. So first Hillary bangs the drum that Obama is not ready for executive power. Then she screams that she wants him for her VP, even though I guess he's not ready for it. Then this:

Howard Wolfson, Clinton's chief spokesman, said during a conference call with reporters that Clinton would not pick a running mate who has not met the “national security threshold” — as Clinton’s military advisers and Wolfson put it on the call — but that it is possible Obama could meet that threshold by this summer's Democratic convention.

In other words, once Hillary has the nomination, in three months Obama will magically be able to pass the "national security threshold." I guess he'll have to go to night classes or something.

[Lemur]

These campaign ads are just getting trippier. Here's McCain's latest -- it's pretty good, but I'm unclear on what the images of galaxies and nebulae have to do with being POTUS. And the Churchill comparison isn't as apt as could be -- I'm sure if Al Qaeda wanted to fight us on the streets, we'd be overjoyed. And we'd win in about one hour. The whole problem of a terrorist opponent is that he does not want to fight you on the beaches, in the hills, on the streets, etc.

will.i.am has another Obama video, rather less interesting than the first one. Boring, in fact. The whole thing looks and feels like a testimonial to the power of the Gap. Or Axe Body Spray, but then, the Axe ads are much funnier.

No interesting videos from Hillary this week. I assume everybody's seen the unspeakably creepy Jack Nicholson video ...

[Tristrem]

so it looks like Obama won mississippi tonight, no surprise there.

What i thought was interesting is the the other results that cnn is projecting Obama won the most delegates in Texas with the caucus results added to the primary results. link - http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/...ign/index.html

They said he won 99 delegates to the 94 that Clinton won. Interesting, i wonder how this will get spun by the media? Did Clinton lose Texas, or did Obama reap the benefits of the wacky Texas system?


I think it's great, it's just karma kicking Billary's butt once again, this time for that use of the dirty 3 a.m. add.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Congratulations Barack.

PS - Romney's page is back up at www.mittromney.com

There has been a bit of jabber about him being picked for VP - I'm gonna put my money on him. I'M TOTALLY PSYCHED!

I'll campaign hard for him and McCain.

[LittleGrizzly]

Congratulations Barack.

PS - Romney's page is back up at www.mittromney.com

There has been a bit of jabber about him being picked for VP - I'm gonna put my money on him. I'M TOTALLY PSYCHED!

I'll campaign hard for him and McCain.

Just out of interest how do you think Romney as VP would improve McCain ? would there be a change of McCain's policys with Romney or is it just someone you trust share some values with being in influence ?

[ICantSpellDawg]

Just out of interest how do you think Romney as VP would improve McCain ? would there be a change of McCain's policys with Romney or is it just someone you trust share some values with being in influence ?

They are very different people.

Romney has had executive experience in both the private and public sectors - McCain is lacking there. (so are the 2 dem candidates)

Romney fundamentally understands Economics - McCain has literally said he isn't too great with it. (neither are the 2 dem candidates)

Romney has a more traditional political style and has made quite a few friends in a short period of time - McCain is a bit gruff.

Romney is observant of his religious obligations and has been married to the same woman for his entire married life - McCain may hurt from the past divorce with traditionalists. (Obama has only been married once)

Romney is young and healthy looking with a consummate speaking style - McCain looks like a codger and seems like he is reading off of cue cards. (Obama is charismatic and pleasant looking)

Both are moderate Republicans who want to conserve what works and discard what doesn't in favor of true progression. Romney is better at reaching out to grassroots conservatives and McCain is better at reaching out to Independents.

Independents tend to be the deciding factor in elections - but only if you have your house in order. Romney has shown himself to be pretty good at uniting conservatives after 8 years of an unpopular "conservative" in the white house.

I think that Romney has serious skills that would be a huge benefit to McCain. Supposedly Romney is very likable face to face, so I think that their past difficulties would be more political than personal. My ire over McCain has died down since he became the nominee.

Who knows - the G.O.P. seems to have a shot as of this moment - tables have turned a bit.

[Lemur]

Interesting tidbit from the most recent primary:

With McCain's nomination secure, Republicans are increasingly voting in the Democratic primaries ... for the Clintons. Without Republicans, Obama would have won last night by 68 - 28. Who would have thought that Dixiecrats would be revived by Clintons? It could have made a bigger difference in delegates, perhaps up to ten.

[Ronin]

I assume everybody's seen the unspeakably creepy Jack Nicholson video ...

I had noticed.....check out my post on the previous page...

post nº 335

[Lemur]

A more in-depth look at the Republicans-for-Hillary phenomenon ...

Now that their nomination race is over, Republicans will feel freed up to vote in Democrat contests, meaning that the summons to cross party lines by Mr Limbaugh, who has a weekly audience of at least 14 million, could play a significant part in deciding the next US president.

Exit polls in Texas and Ohio show that nine per cent of voters in both were self-declared Republicans.

Last week Mrs Clinton's share of that vote more than doubled. In nine previous open primaries, no more than six per cent of voters were Republicans, and Mr Obama won overwhelmingly each time, with one exception.

Laura Kreissl, an accounting professor who was volunteering at precinct 307 in Canyon, a town 20 miles south of Amarillo, said she was "stunned" when the first person she checked in said "Rush Limbaugh sent me".

"He said: 'I am voting for Hillary Clinton but I want to see the Democrats implode'. As I sat there for 12 hours you hear people rattling on, and a great many mentioned Rush Limbaugh," she said.

[ICantSpellDawg]

A more in-depth look at the Republicans-for-Hillary phenomenon ...

Now that their nomination race is over, Republicans will feel freed up to vote in Democrat contests, meaning that the summons to cross party lines by Mr Limbaugh, who has a weekly audience of at least 14 million, could play a significant part in deciding the next US president.

Exit polls in Texas and Ohio show that nine per cent of voters in both were self-declared Republicans.

Last week Mrs Clinton's share of that vote more than doubled. In nine previous open primaries, no more than six per cent of voters were Republicans, and Mr Obama won overwhelmingly each time, with one exception.

Laura Kreissl, an accounting professor who was volunteering at precinct 307 in Canyon, a town 20 miles south of Amarillo, said she was "stunned" when the first person she checked in said "Rush Limbaugh sent me".

"He said: 'I am voting for Hillary Clinton but I want to see the Democrats implode'. As I sat there for 12 hours you hear people rattling on, and a great many mentioned Rush Limbaugh," she said.

Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Any Republican who would consider Hillary is the worst kind of Republican. Good Riddance.

[KukriKhan]

But, cross-voting in the primaries could be to set up a more likely win in November; many Repubs think Johhny Mac can defeat Hil more easily than Barrie in the General, yes?

[Ronin]

But, cross-voting in the primaries could be to set up a more likely win in November; many Repubs think Johhny Mac can defeat Hil more easily than Barrie in the General, yes?

yeah...I think that the republicans have something on Hilary that they haven´t brought up yet....they have some broad Bill slept with or something, and if they go against Hilary they are gonna swift-boat her with it...

Barrack scares the republicans I think, especially with the whole youth-movement thing the guy has behind him.

[Lemur]

I think it's abundantly clear why some Republicans are supporting Clinton. But are they going the final distance and giving her money, as they did with Nader in 2000?

[A friend] passed along a brand new poll of an important mid-sized swing state. It shows McCain and Obama essentially tied, with both in the low 40's. But McCain leads HRC in the same state by 7 points. Go Hillary, go!

[CountArach]

Going back to the whole Republicans for Hillary thing, I thought you guys might find this interesting:

Here are some additional results shared by CBS News that did not make it into the column, among the roughly 9% of the Mississippi Democratic primary electorate that voted for Clinton but identify as Republicans (n=147):

* 99% are white
* 56% are female
* 47% have a college degree
* 65% report incomes of more than $50,000 a year; 17% report incomes of more than $100,000 a year
* 68% describe themselves as conservative; only 8% describe themselves as liberal

Some addtional substantive items for the same subgroup of Clinton Republicans:

* 54% said Clinton would be more likely than Obama to beat McCain, 37% said Obama would be more likely to beat McCain
* 67% rate the economy as the most important issue facing the country, 22% name the war in Iraq and 8% name the health care as most important issues
* 38% said "has the right experience" was the candidate quality that mattered most when they voted, 20% said "has the best chance to win in November," 15% said "can bring about needed change" and 14% said "cares about people like me"
* 61% thought Clinton attacked Obama unfairly; 55% thought Obama attacked Clinton unfairly.
* 43% decided how they would vote in the last three days or the last week; 55% decided in the last month or before that

Forgot the Link

[Lemur]

From the same poll:

• 85% find Senator McCain favorable or very favorable
• 72% find Senator Clinton not "honest and trustworthy"

Somehow I don't think they're crossing over because they really, really want to see Hillary in the White House.

-edit-

Excellent analysis of HRC's end-term strategy:

She needs to convince the remaining uncommitted superdelegates to split for her by about a 2-to-1 margin. The only way she can get a split like that is if she can persuasively argue that Obama is unelectable. And the only way she can do that is to make him unelectable. Some people have treated this as an unfortunate byproduct of Clinton's decision to continue her campaign. It's actually a central element of the strategy. Penn is already saying he's unelectable. It's not true, but by the time the convention rolls around, it may well be.

[Vladimir]

And one of them is running for president!

Hussein

Bloody hell! Can someone eliminate the apostrophe from the title?

[Xiahou]

And one of them is running for president!

Hussein

Bloody hell! Can someone eliminate the apostrophe from the title?

That guy, Obama's "spiritual mentor", is a huge liability for him.

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

Unbelievable really. That meshes very nicely with Obama's hope and change rhetoric. The video of it is plays even better.

Another bit of dirt that I look forward to hearing more about is Obama's million dollar earmarks that he allegedly requested in 2006 for his wife's employer.

[Vladimir]

None of it matters though because that fool of an old man the Republicans offered up has vowed not run a negative campaign. This guy is so ripe for it, but I can see it backfiring.

[Xiahou]

None of it matters though because that fool of an old man the Republicans offered up has vowed not run a negative campaign. This guy is so ripe for it, but I can see it backfiring.

That's what 527s are for. McCain can publicly condemn them while they do his dirty work for him. I'm sure he knows all about it- he wrote our ridiculous campaign finance laws.

[Vladimir]

That's what 527s are for. McCain can publicly condemn them while they do his dirty work for him. I'm sure he knows all about it- he wrote our ridiculous campaign finance laws.

True. The plot thickens.

[CountArach]

None of it matters though because that fool of an old man the Republicans offered up has vowed not run a negative campaign. This guy is so ripe for it, but I can see it backfiring.

How is a negative campaign EVER good for an election?

[Vladimir]

How is a negative campaign EVER good for an election?

Because it gets you the win.

Just listening to the news. Apparently this Obama's mentor also blamed America's moral state for the 9/11 attacks. When Falwell used the God's wrath line and blamed homosexuals, leftists gnashed their teeth and tore at their clothes until he apologized.

I don't care about some European socialist who trash talks the country (you're supposed to rag on the other team, right?) but when someone who isn't proud of their country, in less they're trying to control it, or attends these kinds of services, or does a handful of other things to show contempt for this country, then it's personal.

Truly the most liberal senator.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Obama said we should sing "god damn america"? That's pretty bad.

[Vladimir]

Obama said we should sing "god damn america"? That's pretty bad.

It was his spiritual mentor. The guy he took his time in distancing himself from some of the remarks he made.

[woad&fangs]

Not him, his pastor.

and yeah, the fact that he still attends that church creeps me out a bit.

[Xiahou]

Here's some more Rev Jeremiah gems from a 2006 speech, as pointed out in a recent WSJ editorial:

"America is still the No. 1 killer in the world. . . . We are deeply involved in the importing of drugs, the exporting of guns, and the training of professional killers . . . We bombed Cambodia, Iraq and Nicaragua, killing women and children while trying to get public opinion turned against Castro and Ghadhafi . . . We put [Nelson] Mandela in prison and supported apartheid the whole 27 years he was there. We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God."

His voice rising, Mr. Wright said, "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being anti-Semitic. . . . We care nothing about human life if the end justifies the means. . . ."

Concluding, Mr. Wright said: "We started the AIDS virus . . . We are only able to maintain our level of living by making sure that Third World people live in grinding poverty. . . ."

There you go. America started the AIDS virus. Is if fair to say Obama's "spiritual mentor" has an irrational hatred of his country?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Not him, his pastor.

Oh...